Thomas Hall Robinson was born on a farm in Harford County, Maryland in 1860. Son of Dr. Samuel S. and Mary E. (Prigg) Robinson, the young Robinson grew up in a well-to-do Catholic household. His education was received from the county's public schools and from private tutors.

In 1884, two years after his admission to the Bar, Robinson became a member of the Daniel Scott and Henry D. Farnandis Law Firm in the Harford County town of Bel Air. Here he assumed responsibility for a general load of legal casework. Evincing an interest in politics, Robinson successfully ran for the State Senate in 1891 on the Democratic ticket. Despite his avid desire to remain in the Senate, Robinson lost his re-election bid in 1893.

Robinson had a marked ability to make crucial political contacts while assuming numerous and influential responsibilities in the Democratic organization. He rapidly became a power in Harford County Democratic politics, eventually becoming party boss. He developed direct connections with members of the State Democratic hierarchy such as Murray Vandiver, Spencer C. Jones, Stevenson A. Williams, Lloyd Wilkinson, John Walter Smith and Fred C. Talbott. With these connections, Robinson became arbiter for all aspects of the party in Harford County, including the dispensation of patronage.

Robinson regained his State Senate seat in the 1901 elections. Firmly entrenched in Harford County, he held onto this office for several terms. In 1923 and again in 1927 Robinson was elected as Attorney General of Maryland. He died in the midst of campaigning for a third term in 1930.

The singlemost remarkable attribute Robinson possessed was his capacity for being deeply involved in a number of pursuits concurrently. In addition to his duties as an elected official, Robinson was also long-time President of the Second National Bank of Bel Air as well as five-time delegate to the Democratic

National Convention (He was Chairman of the Maryland delegation in 1920 and in 1924.) His law practice was busy at all times, dealing mostly with civil and corporate disputes. The emphasis on corporate law was probably a direct result of Robinson's position as Counsel for several large businesses such as the Pennsylvania Railroad. In addition to these responsibilities, Robinson was also active in the support of the Conrad Sanitarium and the Female House of Refuge.

Scope and
Content

This collection consists primarily of Thomas H. Robinson's correspondence, both incoming and outgoing. The nature of the correspondence is directly related to Robinson's political involvement as a State Senator, Attorney General, and Harford County Democratic Party leader. Robinson's legal practice is also well represented. Other materials include a variety of papers associated with legal cases handled by Robinson along with a number of his personal accounts, bills and receipts. Most of the items in the collection are dated from 1890 to 1924, a period covering most of Robinson's political and legal activities.

The numerous letters detailing political strategy on both the local and state levels are a clear strength of this collection. Workings of the Democratic State Central Committee, especially as it related to Harford County, are well illustrated. Letters exchanged by Robinson with Democratic leaders such as A.P. Gorman, Charles J. Bonaparte, John Walter Smith, Albert C. Ritchie, Murray Vandiver and Stevenson A. Williams deal with topics such as political patronage, campaign issues, fund raising activities and general electioneering.

The one major gap in the collection is the period Robinson served as Maryland Attorney General. What material does exist between 1925 and 1930 concerns general political matters and does not give much information as to Robinson's official activities. These files no doubt were kept separately from those comprising this collection.

Robinson's correspondence also reflects an extensive legal pracice dealing primarily with civil and corporate suits. Content of these letters usually relate to details and particulars of specific cases, of which there are many. Often, correspondence is associated with the group of legal papers contained in the collection.

Much of Robinson's legal work from about 1893 to 1924 was related to his position as the local Counsel for the Pennsylvania Railroad and its affiliates such as the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad. Many letters were exchanged with the chief legal personnel of the railroad discussing elements and strategies of pending civil suits. Standard communications regarding Company policy and administrative details are also included.

Robinson also did much legal work for other concerns such as the Havre de Grace and Perryville Bridge Company, the Conowingo Bridge Company, the Maryland Shell Fish Commission and the town of Havre de Grace. Large amounts of correspondence were generated from his extensive activities on the behalf of these clients. Largely dealing with the particulars of active suits, this correspondence reveals a great deal about the legal, social, and political problems faced by early 20th Century institutions in Maryland.

Personal and family items are rare in this collection. Small groups of letters to Robinson from his daughter Madeline and son Thomas, Jr. are included, but other family connections are difficult to locate. Personal items are for the most part confined to accounts, bills and receipts.

Introduction

The Thomas H. Robinson Papers span the years 1877 to 1930 with the bulk of the material falling into the period 1890 to 1924. Filling 28 boxes, the collection contains an estimated 15,000 items. No restrictions are imposed upon the papers.

It can be assumed most of this material was similarly kept and used as it is now arranged. The particulars of the Maryland Historical Society's acquisition of the collection, however, are not known.

Materials relating to Robinson's legal casework. Includes legal briefs, writs, warrents, notes, some items of correspondence, statements, affadavits, deeds, and other related items. The series is divided into two parts: large groups of related legal papers that have been identified and pulled together under the case title and a body of unseparated material labelled Legal Papers. Both groups deal heavily with civil and corporate law, especially with respect to cases involving the Pennsulvania Railroad and its affiliates.

THOMAS H. ROBINSON, ACCOUNTS, BILLS and RECEIPTS

ca. 1880 - 1930,

2 boxes

No arrangement.

Personal and some business accounts, bills and receipts of Robinson. Includes items relating to liquor, food, clothing and sundries purchased. Also a number of bills for legal services performed by Robinson.